The York Handmade Brick Co looks forward to a positive year
Like every other business across the UK, The York Handmade Brick Co has faced some very challenging times since the coronavirus pandemic forced the country into lockdown in March. But thanks to the commitment of its staff (some furloughed, some not) and the loyalty of customers, old and new, the company is emerging from this crisis in pretty good health.
Indeed, the teams are currently working on a raft of prestigious commercial and residential developments across the UK.
Before the lockdown, the company had enjoyed the most successful 12 months in its 32-year history with a record turnover of over £2.7 million. Projects included some high-quality commissions in London, Cambridge, the North West, the Midlands and, of course, Yorkshire.
Although hit by the lockdown, the factory has remained open – with strict social distancing and safety measures in place. The business is well-positioned to tackle the tough challenges posed by coronavirus and to emerge stronger than ever. The order book for this year is very healthy, with a number of exciting commissions on the horizon.
The York Handmade Brick Co has just completed two huge projects in London, Lancer Square in Kensington and One Molyneux Street in Marylebone, and there are two more high-quality developments in the pipeline in Mayfair and King’s Cross, overlooking the station.
There were fears that Covid-19 might hit the self-build residential property market hard, but that is not the experience at York Handmade Bricks, where they are currently providing bricks for self-build projects across the UK. These include commissions in York, Doncaster, Sheffield, Liverpool, the Wirral, Durham, Hexham, Shropshire, Rugby and Stoke, totalling almost £1m.
Success has enabled the company to invest in a new dryer, which speeds up the production process and improves efficiency. Looking ahead, it is encouraging to report that brick remains the building material of choice for many architects and specifiers across the UK.
It was way back in 1988 that York Handmade was founded, taking control of a redundant pipeworks in Forest Lane, Alne, with only some excellent clay being of any use for brick-making. Since then, the company has grown to 30 employees.
The key to success has been loyal staff, some of whom have been with the company from the very start. They have demonstrated this loyalty during the current crisis and the company is indebted to them. The factory involves many and varied skills from engineering to ceramic expertise and relies on dedication and expertise at all levels of the production cycle.
The team also particularly values the contacts they have built up in the last 32 years with architects, planners, self-builders and developers and looks forward to continuing those relationships in the years to come.
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The York Handmade Brick Co
Tel: 01347 838881
Email: sales@yorkhandmade.co.uk
Web: https://www.yorkhandmade.co.uk
Original of this article here